The Triumphal Entry

JANUARY 31, 2016

MAIN TEXT: MARK 11: 1-11

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Last month we were celebrating the advent (arrival or coming) of Jesus Christ to this world as a baby, born to be a King. Today’s text records Jesus the King’ s advent into David’s royal city – Jerusalem. There is a strong connection between Jesus’ advent into the world to fulfill the kingly prophecies of the Christ child and His advent into Jerusalem.

Chapter 11 begins the last third of the gospel of Mark. This art focuses on what appears to be the last week of Jesus’ life. Each of the gospel writers understood that these events, that happened in a short time between Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem and His ascension into heaven, were a fulfillment of God’s promise of redemption.

This “Passion Week” will be a busy week culminating in His death on the cross and His glorious resurrection. Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem is traditionally called the “Triumphal Entry” and the Christian calendar calls it Palm Sunday. It is a declaration of His kingship. This moment is a point of no return for Jesus. The Lamb who was slain before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20) will now be slain on earth in space and time. The atonement for sin, ordained in eternity past, now becomes historical for all to behold.

Jerusalem was abuzz with activity during the Passover as people made their way to the city and tripled its population. This Passover would be like no other had been or ever would be. As Paul would write in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

A Colt only for the King

As Jesus approached Jerusalem, He gives instructions to two disciples that may sound strange to us (verses 2-3). To us it may seem like Jesus is telling His disciples to go and steal a donkey for Him. This is not what was going on. Prophesies in the Old Testament clearly indicated that the Messiah would enter the city riding on a donkey (Genesis 49; Zechariah 9:9).

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

This was a deep-rooted hope in the consciousness of the Jews. Most kings on the ancient world rode magnificent horses, but not the King of the Jews. During that time in history a king had a prerogative to commandeer a beast of burden whenever he needed it. Another detail Jesus gave them was that it was to be a colt that had never been ridden. Like horses, usually they had to be broken in to become functional beasts of burden. In Jewish culture no one was allowed to ride on the king’s horse or the kings donkey. It was the colt prepared for the king.

In verse 3 the disciples are instructed by Jesus to answer anyone questioning them by saying, “The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately” This title “Lord” in our text is rarely used and signified “the supreme ruler and sovereign”. Jesus used this word for Himself.

Notice that from the moment Jesus enters Jerusalem that His deity, majesty, and authority begin to shine through. Jesus is “Lord” and Master over every detail of His divine destiny.

Verses 4-8 are powerfully symbolic and significant fulfillment of prophecies. The crowd’s cry, “Hosanna” ironically means, “Lord, save us”. They cheered for Jesus, the miracle-working rabbi from Nazareth, because they wanted him to overthrow their oppressors. They expected Jesus to lead an uprising of military and political liberation, not lay down His life as a spiritual sacrifice for Romans as well as Jews. Their words could not have been truer, but they could not have been more understood by those shouting them. Only Jesus knew the full significance of what they were saying.

The return of God’s glory

Jesus does not come to the temple as a tourist or gawking pilgrim caught up in the fanfare and enamored by the spectacular beauty of the Temple (verse 11). Mark’s conclusion of this episode seems anticlimactic at first. It looks as though Jesus went into the temple looked around and went back to Bethany as if nothing significant happened. This is not true.

Earlier, Jesus had been resolute to go to Jerusalem knowing that He would suffer and die there. However, the Temple was His ultimate destination. He went to the place where historically the sacrifices were offered. He went to the temple that replaced the tabernacle, which was a living prophecy of the Messiah who was to come.

John 1:14 tells us; “The Word became flesh and dwelled (tabernacle) among us”. Jesus fulfilled everything that the tabernacle pointed to. He is the sanctuary. When Jesus said, (I will) “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19), He was speaking of Himself.

Additionally, in 586 BC, Ezekiel saw the glory of God leave the temple in Jerusalem and ascend to Bethany on the Mount of Olives (Ezekiel 11:23) as Jerusalem was destroyed and God’s people were forced into exile into Babylon. At the triumphal entry, the One whom the Scriptures define as the brightness of God’s glory (Hebrews 1:3) descended from Bethany and the Mount of Olives and went to the temple.

In 586 BC the glory of God left the temple, but when Jesus came, the glory of God came back. Yet no one understood that the King of glory was in their midst, about to meet the destiny to which He was called and for which He was born.

Jesus reigns with unmatched glory and power!

APPLY TO LIFE

This week, as you reflect on the message, utilize this section to help you apply what has been taught to your life. Think of friends, co-workers, neighbors, family etc., that you could meet with to have a time of mutual sharing as you open God’s Word together.

BLESS RHYTHMS

This simple acronym (BLESS, B - Bless, L - Listen, E - Eat, S - Speak, S - Sabbath) should help you to frame your life according to the great commandment “love God” (Matthew 22:37) and the expression of that commandment in loving your neighbor (John 13:34). Each time you meet, start by discussing the rhythms of your life according to B.L.E.S.S.

BlessIntentionally bless: Christ-followers, non-believers and those different than you.

ListenListen to what God is saying to you, through His Word and others.

EatShare a meal with a Christ-follower and also a non-believer.

SpeakTalk to God through prayer and to others about Jesus through witness.